Polls close tonight: when to expect midterm results
Polls start closing at 6 p.m. ET (5 p.m. CT) in parts of Indiana and Kentucky and the last close at 1 a.m. ET (midnight CT) in Alaska's Aleutian Islands, according to AP. Big batches close at 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. ET; Minnesota closes at 9 p.m. ET (8 p.m. CT). Some states count slowly: in 2024, about 38% of California's vote wasn't counted on election night, and California counts mail ballots postmarked by Election Day if they arrive by Nov. 10. Results are partial until races are called.
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Why it matters
Vote totals posted tonight are partial counts, and states report on very different schedules after their polls close. Some states, such as California, Washington and Alaska, count a large share of ballots after election night because of mail-ballot rules.
What to watch
California counts mail ballots postmarked by Election Day if they arrive by November 10; Alaska's mail-ballot results are mostly not expected before the November 18 deadline for overseas and military ballots.
Sources
- AP (via WDIV ClickOnDetroit): Election night agenda: when polls close and when to expect results
- CBS News: Here's when polls close for 2026 midterm elections
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